Feed-water-heating system for locomotives



Feb. 25, 1930. G. H. EMERSON 1,743,371

' FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed June 26, 1926 4 She t 1 LZ7 GUG7 oZ77" Einerdo rd,

2% eg/tgzzz rvzefi Feb. 25, 1930 EMERSON 1,748,871 I FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed June 26. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LTUeIv-Z O G. H. EMERSON 1,748,871

FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM FOR LOCOMOTIVES Fil ed June 26. 1926 4 Sheets-Shet 4 Patented Feb. 25, 193!) UNITED STATES enonen a. EMERSON, on BALTIMORE, MARYLAND FEED-WATEB-HEATING SYSTEM FOR LOCOMOTIVES Application filed June 26,

My invention relates to locomotives and it has particular relation to locomotive feedwater heaters.

One object of my invention is to provide a feed-water heater system, wherein the feed water may be raised to an extremely high temperature before being inserted into t a boiler.

Another object of my invention is to provide a feed-water heating system, wherein exhaust steam may be caused to heat the feed water to a temperature at which degasification readily occurs in an open tank and also to heat further the degasified feed water prior to insertion into the boiler.

Other objects and applications of my invention, as well as details of construction and operation, whereby my invention may be practiced, will appear more fully hereinafter, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the forward end of a locomotive embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail top-plan view of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. v

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of a modification; and

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the structure of Fig. 4 with the cover removed.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the structure illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, a forward end'l of a locomotive frame 2 constitutes asupport for a boiler 3 and a smoke box 4. The smoke box 4 may have a stack 5 substantially centrally located on'an upper side 6 thereof and it is also provided with an exhaust steam nozzle 7 having exhaust steam passages 8 and 9 respectively leading to valve chambers 11 and 12 of cylinders 13 and 14 positioned on the opposite sldes of the locomotive frame 2, as is customary in the art. I

A feed-water tank or casing 15 may be pivotally mounted by vertically positioned hingers 16 on a front edge portion 17 of the smoke box 4, whereby an imperforate rear 1926. Serial N0. 118,680.

will 18 of the tank 15 may normally close a front open end 19 of the smoke box 4 but permitting access to the smoke box when said tank 15 is moved horizontally about the hinges 16. The imperforate wall 18 thus constitutes a front wall for the smoke box 4 and a rear wall for the tank 15. The diameter of the taiik 15 is such that the walls thereof constitute substantially a continuation of the walls of the smoke box 4. The walls of the tank 15 terminate in an imperforate front plate 21 which is positioned in parallel relation to the rear wall 18.

An eductor-condenser 22 is mounted on the upper portion of'the movable tank 15 so as to extend inwardly of the same. -Feed water may be supplied to the condenser 22 by means of a pipe 23 leading from any suitable propelling means such as any conventional form of injector 23 at the rear of the locomotive'. The feed water entering the tank 15 through the condenser 22 may be preheated by means of exhaust steam supplied from a pipe 24, as will presently appear in greater detail.

Experience has shownthat the usual boiler feed water contains large quantities of air as well as acid, and, as a result, there is a rapid deterioration of the boiler parts as well as low operating efliciency. The gas in the feed water is eliminated in the present invention by preheating the same by means of the exhaust steam from the pipe 24 to a relatively high temperature, say between 180 and 212 F. Within these temperatures, the oxygen or other gases are readily given oif from the feed water upon being discharged into the tank 15, and the capacity of the tank 15 is such that the feed water is held therein a time sufficient for the desired degasification to occur. The building up of high pressures in the tank 15 during this operation is prevented by means ofa vent pipe 25 or other means oflering a substantially unrestricted outlet for the liberated gases.

The undesirable chemical constituents of the feed water passing into the open tank 15 may be removed by means of any desired agent, such as limestone, which is supported in' trays 26 mounted on brackets 27 extending from the imperforate rear wall 18 of said open tank 15. These trays are vertical- 1y disposed so that thedischarge from the condenser 22 passes successively from one on an upper portion 28 of the boiler-3 a closed feed-water heater 29 comprising spaced .sections 31 and 32. Each of the sections is provided with spaced headers 33 and interconnectin tubes 34, whereby fluid may pass through t e unit from an inlet opening 35 at one end to a discharge outlet 36, at the I heater sections 32 through the check valve- 42 into the boiler 3.u

- tinguishable over that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 princ pally in the fact that the sectional feed- 7 water heater .29 is re laced by a single unit 54 which is transverse y mounted on the movable open tank 15 forward of the condenserother end. The space between the-headers 33 22. A movement of the tank 15 to open or is adapted toreceive a heatin medium which may be supplied through an inlet opening 37 and discharged through an outlet opening 38. Corresponding discharge outlets 36 of the sections 31 and 32 are connected by a pipe- 39. The outlet opening 35 of the section 32 maybe connected by means of a pipe 41 to the boiler 3 through a check valve 42. The opening 35 .of the section 31 may be'connected by means of a pipe 43 to a discharge outlet 44 of a rotary pump 45. A suction end 46 of the pum is connected by means of a pipe 47 to a ottom portion 48 of the open feed-water tank 15, whereby only the degasified feed water may be withdrawn therefrom.

The inlet openings 37 of the heater sections 31 and 32 are connected by pipes 49 and 51,

respectively, to the exhaust passages 8 and 9 leading from the'valve chambers 11 and- 12 of the cylinders 13 and 14. The outlet openings 38 of by pipes 52 24leading to the eductor-condenser 22.

In operation, feedwater is forced by suitable means 23 through the pipe 23 to the eductor-condenser 22 located in the-open degasifying tank 15. As the feed water discharges from the eductor condenser 22, a

vacuum is created, causing exhaust steam to be withdrawn from the passages 8 and 9 and to traverse passages respectively including the pipes 49 and 51, the heater sect ons 3 1 and 32, the pipes 52 and 53, the common pipe 24, and the eductor condenser 22. The steam thus supplied to the feed water causes the preheating of'the same, so that as it is discharged from the condenser 22 and passed from one of the trays 26 to the I other, the gases in the feed water are liberated and the undesirable chemical constituents removed.

The gases given off are vented by means of the pipe 25.

As above indicated, the parts are sodesigned that by the time the feed water reaches the suction pipe 47 leading to the pump 45, complete degasification has occurred. assing from the pump 45, the feed water is forced successively through the closed heater sections31 vand 32, where a further increase in temperature is efiected by the exhaust steam from the locomotive cylinders 13 and the sections 31 and 32 are connected and 53 to the common pipe.

to close the front end,19 of the fire box 4 thus results in a bodily movement of the closed feed-water unit 54 as well as the condenser 22. t further difl'erence is in the connection of a fpipe 55v leading from a heating chamber 56 o the closed heater unit 54 directly to the {exhaust nozzle 7. The heating chamber 56 is also connected by a pipe 57 'to a port 58 of the condenser 22, whereby the exhaust steam; passing through the heater 54 may. be supphed to the condenser 22 to cause the preheating of the feed water, as in Figs. land 2. The heater54 may be supplied with feed water from the open tank 15 through piping 59 includ ng the pump 45. The heater watermay be discharged from the unit 54 through pipe 61 which is adapted to be connected to the boiler 3, as in 'the preceding system. The operation of-this modification is otherw se as previously described for the system of F gs. 1 and 2.

While I'have shown only two embodiments of my-invention, for the purpose of describing the same and illustrating its principles of construction and operation, it is apparent that various modifications may be made there- 111'W1l3l1011t departing from the spirit ofmy invention and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed-thereon as are indicated in the appended claims or as are demanded by the prior art. I claim The 'modification'shown in 3 isdis 14 prior to its condensation in the condenser oint may amount toas much as 35.

1. A locomotive having. a boiler provided means whereby steam from said exhaust pas-.

sage may be caused to heat the feed water supplied to'said closed heater and also the feed water supplied to said casing, the temperature of the water in said casing being such that the gases are liberated.

box movably mounted relative thereto; a condenser positioned to dischar e into said casing; means for forcing fee -water through -'said condenser; a sectional closed feed-water heater having an inlet opening, and a discharge outlet connected to said boiler; pi ing including a pump for propelling fluid rom said casmg to said inlet opening; means whereby the sections of said closed feed-water heater may be respectively heated with steam from said exhaust steam passages; and means whereby the exhaust steam after heating said closed heater may be supplied to said condenser to o erate the same and to cause the heating 0 the feed-water discharged therefrom.

3. In combination, a locomotive having a boiler provided with a smoke box; an open feed-water tank positioned in advance of said smoke box; a closed feed water heater comprising a plurality of sections mounted on said boiler; means including a condenser for supplying feed water to said open tank; a pump for propelling the water from said open tank to said closed feed-water heater; piping for conducting water from said closed feedwater heater to said boiler; valve chambers provided withexhaust steam passages; and piping leading from said exhaust steam passages to said closed feed-water heater and thence to said condenser.

4. In combination; a locomotive boiler; a smoke box; a feed-water tank constituting a degasifying chamber movably positioned on the said smoke box;-a condenser extending inwardly of the said tank and discharging therein; a closed feed-water heater; means for conducting feed water from the said tank to the said heater; means including passages in said heater for supplying the said condenser with exhaust steam and piping for conducting water from said closed feed water heater to the boiler.

5. In combination; a locomotive smoke box; a feed-water tank movably positioned 59 thereon; a condenser positioned to discharge 'into said tank; means for supplyin feed water to said condenser; a passage or exhaust steam in communication with said condenser; a closed feed-water heater having an inlet opening; means for connecting said tank to said inlet opening; and means whereby steam from said exhaust passage may be caused to first heat the feed Water supplied to said closed heater and to then pass into 60 the said tank and to heat the feed-water therein, prior to said feed-water being injected into said closed heater.

6. The combination of a locomotive boiler having an open feed-water heater; a condenser positioned to discharge into the same;

means for supplying feed water to said condenser; a passage for conducting exhaust steam from the cylinders to a closed feedwater heater; said closed feed-water heater being connectedto said open heater. to receive water therefrom means including passages insaid closed heater for supplying said condenser with exhaust steam; and piping for connecting said closed feed water heater to the boiler.

7. In combination, a locomotive having an open feed-water tank; a condenser so carried b said tank as to extend inwardly thereo a boiler, to be supplied with feedwater; means for supplying feed water to said condenser and for discharging it into said tank; a closed feed-water heater connected to said boiler; means for propelling feed water from said tank to said closed feedwater heater; and means including passages in said closed heater for supplying said condenser with exhaust steam.

8. A locomotive having a smoke box provided witha feed-water tank positioned to constitute a continuation of said smoke box; a condenser extending inwardly of said tank; means for supplying feed water to said condenser and for discharging it into said tank; a closed feed-water heater; means ineluding a pump for propelling feed water from said tank to said closed feed-water heater; an exhaust steam conduit including passages through the closed feed-water heater and on to the condenser; and means whereby steam from said passages may be caused to first heat the feed water supplied to said closed heater and to then pass into the. said tank and to heat the feed water therein, prior to said feed water being injected into said closed heater.

9. The combination in a locomotive, of a boiler; a smoke box provided with a casing forming a continuation of said smokebox so pivotally mounted thereon as .to swing out of the way so as to permit access to said smoke box; a condenser positioned to discharge into said casing; means for supplying feed water to said condenser; a closed feed-water heater having an inlet opening; means including a pump for propelling water from said casing to said inlet opening; a steam passage; means for causing the steam from said passage to first heat the water in said closed feed-water heater .andto then pass into said casing and heaterated there rom to a desired extent; and

piping for connecting said closed feed water heater to the boiler.

10. The combination in a locomotive, of a boiler; a smoke box; an open feed-water tank pivotally mounted in front of said smoke ox to provide ready access thereto; a condenser extending artly into said tank;

means for forcing cod-Water through said condenser into said tank; a sectional-feedwater heater located above said tank,'the sections of which are connected in parallel for the passage of exhaust steam therethrough, and in series for the passage of i feed-water; means for passing exhaust steam from the cylinders to said closed heater and thence to said open heater; means for forc ing feed-water from said open tank intosaid closed tank and piping for connecting said closed feed water heater to the boiler.

GEORGE H. EMERSON. 

